Electrode.



A. G. DAVIS.

BLEGTRODE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 29,1904.

Patented Dec. 1,1908.

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Fig. 2.

UNITED srnrnsrnirnnr OFFICE.

ALBERT G. Davis, or

SCHENIIQTDY, NEW YORK, SSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC compas-fan coaPoaATroN or Naw YORK.

ELECTRODE.

Specification o! Letters Patent.

Patented Dee: I, 1908.

Application med July 29, 1904. serial No. zisoe.

To all lwhom it may concern:

-citizen of the United States, residing at electro `structive actions o vthe arc, which favors Schenectady,- county of Schenectady, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and vuseful Improvements in Electrodes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of an improvement in electrodes for apparatus in which gases are subjected t0 treatment with an electrical discharge or arc. Y

In the manufacture and synthesis of various gaseous products an electrical discharge between suitable electrodes is utilized to produce certain chemical reactions.

The electrodes between which the electrical discharge passes are subjected to severe Working conditions as they must Withstand not only the destructive action of the arc but also the corrosive action of the gases operated upon. Aside from this there are other factors which make certain substances articularly suitable for use as electrodes.

t has been found that some compounds are more active than others in the catalysis of chemical reactions, and it is therefore desirable in selecting a substance to serve as electrodes to choose one which favors catalysis, as many of the reactions occurring in ap aratus of this class are based in part on t iis action.

The resent invention has for its object an Se which pro erly withstands the decatalysis, and which is in other res ects Well ada ted to serve as an electrode. his electro e contains iron and is therefore Well adapted to produce catalytic action because of the activity of iron and iron compounds in general in the catalysis of chemical reactions, and I prefer to use iron combined with oxygen in the form of an oXid of iron such as Fe3(), which yields a long arc and is other- Wise Well adapted for use as an electrode. This oXid, known as magnetite, occurs widely distributed in nature. It is hard and possesses good mechanical strength and i wearing qualities, and it crystallizes in regular octahedra. In this condition it may be used as electrodes,'or it may be ulverized, mixed with a suitable binder suc aswater glass and molded intol the desired form. Electrodes of this oXid give a long vbrilliant arc and are articularly effective in promoting chemica changes in the gases treated.

In the manufacture of atmospheric lproducts such as the oxide. of nitrogen these e ectrodes are substantially unattacked by the nitric acid and appear to promote in amarked degree the formation of the oxids". These electrodes may beused in various forms of apparatus and the simple cell shown in the drawing illustrates onl one type of apparatus to which they are a apted.

Figure 1 is 'a sectionalelevation of a cellarraned for the production of atmospheric pro ucts; Fig. 2 1s ai cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig, 1 with some ofthe parts broken away; and Fig. 3 is a detail view-of the two electrodes.

The glass jar 1 is tightly clamped between the fiberplates 2 3 by the brass rods 4. The top of the jar is provided with an annular Washer 5 of elastic material to insure'an air tight inclosure within the jar. A brass tube 6 passes through the top plate 2 and carries at its lower end a glass tube 7 for conducting the gas to be treated to the bottom of the jar. The tube 8 serves as a` means for drawing off the gases after treatment by the arc. The brass rod 9 is securely clamped to the ber top and serves as a support for the lower electrode 10 which is connected thereto by y holder 11. .y The rod 9 is rotected from the arc by a glass tube 12 andp is provided with a binding post 13 at its top to connect the lower electrode with the source of electrical energy. The upper electrode 14 is carried by a rod 15 supported by the arm 16. This arm is rigidly secured to the insulating ca 17 which in turn is carried rigidly on the sliaft 18. The shaft is su ported in a bearing 19 by the adjustable colar 20 and may be rapidly rotated by means of the pulley 21. This rotation of the shaft causes a similar rotation of the upper electrode' 14. Electrical connection is made with vthe upper electrode through the binding post 22, spring brush 24 and s ip ring 25, the latter bemg in contact with the arm 16. A counterweight 26v equalizes the Weight of the upper electrode and its silpport. When the upper electrode is rapi y revolved the momentary contact of t two electrodes serves to establish an arc which is drawn out as the electrodes separate and which is finally extinguished when the arcing distance becomes too great. Actual contact of the electrodes is however not essential, for with a suiciently high voltage the current will jump the intervening air gap and establish the arc. By thus avoiding actual contact `of the electrodes ymechanical wear of the contact surface is avoided. In the manufacture of oxids of nitrogen the ases to be treated are forced down the tube 7 into the lower part of the jar 1 where they come ingcontact with ythe arc formed between the electrodes and where the nitrogen and oxygen unite to form the desired products.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In an apparatus for the electrical treatment of gases, an electrode containing iron chemically combined with another element, a

coperatin electrode, and means for delivering to said 'electrodes a as to be treated.

2. In an apparatus for t e electrical treatment of gases, an electrode of iron oxid, a cooperatin electrode, and means for delivering to said e ectrodes a gas to be treated.

3. In an apparatus for the electrical treatment of gases, an electrode of magnetite, a coperating electrode, and means for delivering to said electrodes a gas to be treated.

4. In an apparatus for the electrical treatment of gases, electrodes containing magnetsoaeee ite in substantial percentage, and means-.for

establishing an arc between said electrodes.`

5. In combination, in an apparatus for the production of chemical cha es in gases or vapor, an electrode yielding a ong arc b virtue of its content of an iron compoun and means for springing an arc from said electrode.

6. In an apparatis for the electrical treatment of gases, an electrode yielding a long arc by virtue of its content of iron chemically combinedv with another element, a coperating electrode, and means for delivering to said electrodes a gas to be treated.

7. In an apparatus for the electrical treati ment of gases, an electrode consisting of a conductive compound of iron with a nonmetallic element, a coperating electrode, and means for delivering to said electrodes a gas to be treated.

witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th dy of July, 1904.

ALBERT G. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN Oanonn. 

